So, the director I had been trying to show my portfolio to responded to my email the next day, asking for my resume and any photos I might have electronically. I sent some stuff that was small enough to email that evening. That was a week ago, and I have not heard anything since then.
God I love waiting.
As a funny aside, about fifteen minutes after sending the email, I walked out of my office and who was across the street, but the very same director. They were with someone I knew, so I walked across to talk with my friend. I stopped short of saying, "I just sent you an email."
Perhaps I should have.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
OK, So I Have Not Posted In A While
I had my post finished, really I did, but my dog ate it.
Actually, I have been too busy have wild monkey sex on the roof of my building.
Would you believe....?
Seriously, between 10 hour days on the job site, and having a friend staying with me while he is working on a show at Studio Theatre, I have had little time to do anything other than check my email and read some other blogs.
My random thoughts for the week so far:
The East Coast Alaska Girl leaves tommorrow to begin her exciting new life in Juneau. We are happy for her, but sad for us. We will miss her.
As of today, B is no longer a homeowner. Can I hear a WOO HOO!
I have a wonderfully social weekend planned. I am attending the birthday party of a friend on Friday night, then heading to Berkley Springs, WV for fireworks and frivolity. And most exciting of all, I will get to hang out with Dan and Randy, who I have not seen in over a month.
Have an a fun and safe 4th of July weekend all.
Actually, I have been too busy have wild monkey sex on the roof of my building.
Would you believe....?
Seriously, between 10 hour days on the job site, and having a friend staying with me while he is working on a show at Studio Theatre, I have had little time to do anything other than check my email and read some other blogs.
My random thoughts for the week so far:
The East Coast Alaska Girl leaves tommorrow to begin her exciting new life in Juneau. We are happy for her, but sad for us. We will miss her.
As of today, B is no longer a homeowner. Can I hear a WOO HOO!
I have a wonderfully social weekend planned. I am attending the birthday party of a friend on Friday night, then heading to Berkley Springs, WV for fireworks and frivolity. And most exciting of all, I will get to hang out with Dan and Randy, who I have not seen in over a month.
Have an a fun and safe 4th of July weekend all.
Monday, June 27, 2005
How To Help?
I tend to be rather protective of the people I care about, often rabidly so. I have two seperate friends going through considerable angst over moving. One has just sold her house, and between accepting a contract on it a month ago and now, her AC has gone on the fritz, and her refridgerator has died. Twice. All of this must be taken care of by closing on Thursday.
The other friend is moving across country to start a new job in a small town a very long way from anything.
I wish there was something I could do for them. Even if it was to make them believe it will all be OK. Because it will.
I hate feeling powerless like this.
The other friend is moving across country to start a new job in a small town a very long way from anything.
I wish there was something I could do for them. Even if it was to make them believe it will all be OK. Because it will.
I hate feeling powerless like this.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Some Helpful Hints For Going Out In Public
Over the past several weeks, I have spent some time standing in various lines. The post office, the grocery store, the train station. And increasingly, I have been subjected to the grumblings of people around me, usually quite loudly.
In the post office a few weeks ago, there was a woman who wanted to buy stamps. The line at the window was quite long, and there were only two attendants working. Stamp Lady asked another employee if they could open a stamps only line. She was directed to the stamp machine, but the only stamp available in the amount she wanted to buy were the American Flag stamps. Stamp Lady didn’t want those stamps, she wanted something prettier. She then began loudly complaining that no one would open a stamps only line for her. She huffed and puffed up and down the line, alternating between harassing the employees, and declaiming loudly “This is our tax dollars at work, folks.”
The woman standing in front of me finally said to her “Actually, the Postal Service is not funded through taxes, it’s paid for entirely from postage fees and other services.” I wanted to kiss her right then and there.
This took the wind out of Stamp Lady’s sails, and she huffed out a few moments later.
Now I have those days. You know the ones. The ones where you think everyone you encounter is too stupid for words, and it seems there is some vast conspiracy to make you wait as long as is humanly possible so you will be late to absolutely everything. I have them frequently.
You know what I do about it? Nothing. I take a deep breath and try to relax, or I stew and think vindictive things about the metro system that has demanded that everyone who parks at a Metro facility buy one of those Smart Trip card thingys yet only has two machines per station that will let you add value to them and the guy in front of me invariably can’t understand the directions because apparently English is like his third effing language.
I don’t vent these thoughts out loud. I keep them to myself. If I am having a crappy day, there is no need for me to share that information with the world. Just because my life sucks, I don’t have the right to bring other people down with me.
So if you feel slighted because YOU have to wait in line with everyone else, and where you have to go and what you have to do is infinitely more important than the rest of us standing there:
Shut.
The.
F#&K.
UP.
No one cares. No. One.
Suck it up and deal with it like the rest of us.
And don’t be rude to the people who have to deal with obnoxious a**holes like you all day long. They don’t deserve it. These people have the crappiest jobs known to man. Dealing with the general public day in and day out would make me insane.
In the post office a few weeks ago, there was a woman who wanted to buy stamps. The line at the window was quite long, and there were only two attendants working. Stamp Lady asked another employee if they could open a stamps only line. She was directed to the stamp machine, but the only stamp available in the amount she wanted to buy were the American Flag stamps. Stamp Lady didn’t want those stamps, she wanted something prettier. She then began loudly complaining that no one would open a stamps only line for her. She huffed and puffed up and down the line, alternating between harassing the employees, and declaiming loudly “This is our tax dollars at work, folks.”
The woman standing in front of me finally said to her “Actually, the Postal Service is not funded through taxes, it’s paid for entirely from postage fees and other services.” I wanted to kiss her right then and there.
This took the wind out of Stamp Lady’s sails, and she huffed out a few moments later.
Now I have those days. You know the ones. The ones where you think everyone you encounter is too stupid for words, and it seems there is some vast conspiracy to make you wait as long as is humanly possible so you will be late to absolutely everything. I have them frequently.
You know what I do about it? Nothing. I take a deep breath and try to relax, or I stew and think vindictive things about the metro system that has demanded that everyone who parks at a Metro facility buy one of those Smart Trip card thingys yet only has two machines per station that will let you add value to them and the guy in front of me invariably can’t understand the directions because apparently English is like his third effing language.
I don’t vent these thoughts out loud. I keep them to myself. If I am having a crappy day, there is no need for me to share that information with the world. Just because my life sucks, I don’t have the right to bring other people down with me.
So if you feel slighted because YOU have to wait in line with everyone else, and where you have to go and what you have to do is infinitely more important than the rest of us standing there:
Shut.
The.
F#&K.
UP.
No one cares. No. One.
Suck it up and deal with it like the rest of us.
And don’t be rude to the people who have to deal with obnoxious a**holes like you all day long. They don’t deserve it. These people have the crappiest jobs known to man. Dealing with the general public day in and day out would make me insane.
Weekend Highlights
Being drunk dialed Friday night by East Coast Alaska Girl and Lucky Spinster at the same time. Sounds like you ladies had fun, though I wonder if ECAG remembers the conversation.
Helping one of the Multi-State, Girlie-Advising Posse, B, move ino her new apartment.
Going to the movies with another of the MSGA Posse.
Helping one of the Multi-State, Girlie-Advising Posse, B, move ino her new apartment.
Going to the movies with another of the MSGA Posse.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
My Pillow Shams
Thanks to all of you who have offered advice/ assistance on the problem of obtaining an introduction to a certain director. I just sent off an email, so we will see how it goes.
As a digression, I am often discouraged by human beings' treatment of one another. But every once in a while, my faith in humanity is restored. People I only know through this blogging community have on more than one occasion offered advice, help and solace to someone (me) most of them have never met.
Thanx for helping me keep the faith.
As a digression, I am often discouraged by human beings' treatment of one another. But every once in a while, my faith in humanity is restored. People I only know through this blogging community have on more than one occasion offered advice, help and solace to someone (me) most of them have never met.
Thanx for helping me keep the faith.
I Have Now Officially Seen It All
I just sat in my office (Starbucks), and watched two people sit at a table and brew coffee in a coffemaker.
I am more than a bit confused.
I am more than a bit confused.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Where I Want To Be
Despite the fact it is summer, and it is hotter than balls there now*, I really want to jump on a plane and see S in New Orleans. I have been getting up at 4:00 AM for work, and she works nights, so I have not really talked with her, other than to check in, in about two weeks.
I miss her something awful.
*If you have never been there in the summer, you have no idea what disgusting hot humid is. i was there in July several years ago, and saw a cat lying in the shade panting. Yes, the cat was panting. It was ten AM.
I miss her something awful.
*If you have never been there in the summer, you have no idea what disgusting hot humid is. i was there in July several years ago, and saw a cat lying in the shade panting. Yes, the cat was panting. It was ten AM.
Monday, June 20, 2005
How Much Is Enough
I was reading an article in the paper yesterday about record companies adding protection software to CDs to control how many times they can be copied. The record companies are blaming piracy for lower revenues in recent years, but many feel that once they have purchased a CD, it is their's to do with as they wish. One guy was quoted as saying "I have paid for the music, so I should be able to do whatever I want with it.
I have a few thoughts. Of course I do, otherwise, why the hell would I be writing this.
First, when you purchase a CD, you have not purchased the rights to the music recorded on it. What you have purchased is the right to play it for the enjoyment of yourself and your friends. You cannot play that music in an enviroment where people have paid to gather. So yes, every movie you go see that plays music in the soundtrack has paid the owner of the music's rights for the use of that piece of music.
Ask yourself this. If the technology to copy CDs was not available commercially, and you wanted to give your girlfriend that CD you first made out to, what would you do? You would go out and buy another copy. So every time you copy a CD, you are depriving the owner of that music's rights the royalties they are legally entitled to. And I would argue they are entitled to it ethically. Why should they not be compensated for someone enjoying the fruits of their labor.
If you don't like the system, lobby to change the intellectual property laws. And good luck with that.
However, I would also argue that while piracy may be eating into record company profits, another reason for the decline in sales may be that we have finally figured out CDs cost too freakin much. Come on. When the technology was new, sure there were R&D costs to be recouped. But a CD costs somewhere around 2cents to produce, so why do they still cost between $16 and $18 retail?
Perhaps if we began paying recording artists more reasonable sums of money, and record company executives were compensated a little less, we might drive the cost of CDs below $10, where it should be. I mean, really, how much money is enough?
Another benefit of reducing artists' compensation would be the reduction in talentless people producing records as a way to get rich. Cheaper CDs and quality music in one fell swoop?
Where do I sign up?
I have a few thoughts. Of course I do, otherwise, why the hell would I be writing this.
First, when you purchase a CD, you have not purchased the rights to the music recorded on it. What you have purchased is the right to play it for the enjoyment of yourself and your friends. You cannot play that music in an enviroment where people have paid to gather. So yes, every movie you go see that plays music in the soundtrack has paid the owner of the music's rights for the use of that piece of music.
Ask yourself this. If the technology to copy CDs was not available commercially, and you wanted to give your girlfriend that CD you first made out to, what would you do? You would go out and buy another copy. So every time you copy a CD, you are depriving the owner of that music's rights the royalties they are legally entitled to. And I would argue they are entitled to it ethically. Why should they not be compensated for someone enjoying the fruits of their labor.
If you don't like the system, lobby to change the intellectual property laws. And good luck with that.
However, I would also argue that while piracy may be eating into record company profits, another reason for the decline in sales may be that we have finally figured out CDs cost too freakin much. Come on. When the technology was new, sure there were R&D costs to be recouped. But a CD costs somewhere around 2cents to produce, so why do they still cost between $16 and $18 retail?
Perhaps if we began paying recording artists more reasonable sums of money, and record company executives were compensated a little less, we might drive the cost of CDs below $10, where it should be. I mean, really, how much money is enough?
Another benefit of reducing artists' compensation would be the reduction in talentless people producing records as a way to get rich. Cheaper CDs and quality music in one fell swoop?
Where do I sign up?
Sunday, June 19, 2005
If You Are Not Up To Self Indulgent Whining, Don't Read This
OK. I am really grouchy this evening, and I couldn't tell you why. Well. Maybe I can.
First, I am broke. Nothing makes me feel like more of a pathetic loser completely incapable of managing his own affairs than being in this state. It makes me feel like no matter how hard I work, the people who think (or who I project these thoughts onto) I am wasting my time and my life by trying to make a career in the arts* are right.
Of course I am really bad at managing my own money, so that whole completely incapable of managing my own affairs is basically true.
Another source of my angst is the constant search for work you have to undergo** as a freelance artist. Continually having to market ones self is exhausting. And as most of you know, I am not good with the "aren't I great" thing. I am conident as hell when I am working (some*** would say arrogant), but I am still having trouble with extending that to the search for work.
Finally, although I like the people I work for/with in the installation game, it is not what I want to be doing with my life. It is hard for me to get excited abput getting up at 4:00 AM, despite the size of the paycheck.
Yes, I know a whole lot of people are in the same, or worse, boat I am in. But this is my blog, not their's.
So thanks for listening. Sometimes you just need to bitch.
* It is also frustrating that the amount of work we in the arts do is not compensated as adequately as other professions working similar hours.
** Is undergo even a word?
*** Like East Coast Alaska Girl <;)
First, I am broke. Nothing makes me feel like more of a pathetic loser completely incapable of managing his own affairs than being in this state. It makes me feel like no matter how hard I work, the people who think (or who I project these thoughts onto) I am wasting my time and my life by trying to make a career in the arts* are right.
Of course I am really bad at managing my own money, so that whole completely incapable of managing my own affairs is basically true.
Another source of my angst is the constant search for work you have to undergo** as a freelance artist. Continually having to market ones self is exhausting. And as most of you know, I am not good with the "aren't I great" thing. I am conident as hell when I am working (some*** would say arrogant), but I am still having trouble with extending that to the search for work.
Finally, although I like the people I work for/with in the installation game, it is not what I want to be doing with my life. It is hard for me to get excited abput getting up at 4:00 AM, despite the size of the paycheck.
Yes, I know a whole lot of people are in the same, or worse, boat I am in. But this is my blog, not their's.
So thanks for listening. Sometimes you just need to bitch.
* It is also frustrating that the amount of work we in the arts do is not compensated as adequately as other professions working similar hours.
** Is undergo even a word?
*** Like East Coast Alaska Girl <;)
Saturday, June 18, 2005
How Shamless Should I Be?
There is a director working here in DC whose work I have found impressive. They are someone with whom I would very much like to work. We have met once, but it was at a bar after an opening, and I was not exactly sober enough to start whoring for work.
I have asked two different people to provide me with an introduction, and both times it has not worked out. So do I just email this person cold?
Help me out here folks.
I have asked two different people to provide me with an introduction, and both times it has not worked out. So do I just email this person cold?
Help me out here folks.
Friday, June 17, 2005
I Want To Cook
We had a rather slow day at the shop. We packed up work boxes to take to a jobsite on Monday, but otherwise were left with alot of free time. We spent a good deal of the morning talking with the owner of the company, known as Old White Bastard (his name for himself), and my two co-workers. The conversation turned to food and cooking, and we traded some recipies back and forth.*
This raised a jones to cook, especially with the weather being so nice here in DC at the moment, and I have an urge to be in the kitchen. There are two problems with this scenario.
1) I am broke at the moment, so cooking fancy food is out. I have been doing a lot of preparing, but not a lot of cooking.
2) Most of the things I cook are for more than one person, and the recipies don't halve well. It is difficult to make rissotto for one. I really enjoy cooking for other people, but don't get the opportunity to do so often.
And of course my AC does not work, so by the time I get paid, the weather will probably have gotten hot again. So even if I could find someone to cook for, it would be too uncomfortable in my apartment to do so.
So, if you want good food prepared for you in your airconditioned home, just let me know.
* It sometimes strikes me as odd to be working in construction and having conversations about fine dining.
This raised a jones to cook, especially with the weather being so nice here in DC at the moment, and I have an urge to be in the kitchen. There are two problems with this scenario.
1) I am broke at the moment, so cooking fancy food is out. I have been doing a lot of preparing, but not a lot of cooking.
2) Most of the things I cook are for more than one person, and the recipies don't halve well. It is difficult to make rissotto for one. I really enjoy cooking for other people, but don't get the opportunity to do so often.
And of course my AC does not work, so by the time I get paid, the weather will probably have gotten hot again. So even if I could find someone to cook for, it would be too uncomfortable in my apartment to do so.
So, if you want good food prepared for you in your airconditioned home, just let me know.
* It sometimes strikes me as odd to be working in construction and having conversations about fine dining.
What Are People Thinking
I am sitting in my office (Starbucks), and just observed an elderly couple bring in what I can only assume are their five grandchildren. The grandfather went to the counter with the kids while the grandmother stood at the doorway shouting over my head what to order, and changed her mind three times. The children, all somehwere between six and twelve, then proceeded to rearrange the furniture at the grandmother's direction, and then began to complain loudly that their order was incorrect. She then started screaming for her money back.
First, WTF are you bringing pre-adolescents into Starbucks for. The little monsters aren't hyper enough, you had to get them frappaccinos?
Secondly, don't ask a gaggle of children to order something and then expect the order to be right.
Third, SHUT THE F%#K UP!!!! If you get your panties in a bunch over coffee drinks, that's your affair.
Don't make it mine.
First, WTF are you bringing pre-adolescents into Starbucks for. The little monsters aren't hyper enough, you had to get them frappaccinos?
Secondly, don't ask a gaggle of children to order something and then expect the order to be right.
Third, SHUT THE F%#K UP!!!! If you get your panties in a bunch over coffee drinks, that's your affair.
Don't make it mine.
Fun Getting Hurt
Yesterday I had the most fun you can have burning the holy-mother-of-god-living-crap out of yourself.
It's called a plasma torch, and it cuts through steel like a hot knife through warm butter.
I cut a piece of flat steel into tiny little strips. I cut chamfers in the corners of angle iron.
I splashed molten metal onto my neck.
Wow, did that hurt.
The plasma torch is still effing cool.
It's called a plasma torch, and it cuts through steel like a hot knife through warm butter.
I cut a piece of flat steel into tiny little strips. I cut chamfers in the corners of angle iron.
I splashed molten metal onto my neck.
Wow, did that hurt.
The plasma torch is still effing cool.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
The Wonders Of Caffeine
This week I started working again for a company that installs stage rigging and machinery. The money is better than working overhire*, and there is far more work in the summer. The downside is we keep construction hours, in the shop at 6:30 AM, which means getting up at 4:00 AM.
Now, through no concious choice, I spent Monday and Tuesday without consuming any caffeine. I guess I was too tired to remember to drink a glass of tea. This, on top of trying to readjust a body clock used to working until 2:00 AM, has had me dragging ass in the shop.
Today. one of my co-workers bought me a giant cup of iced tea. I have actually come home, taken a shower, walked to the Kennedy Center and back, and am currently in my office, aka Starbucks, and it's almost 7:00 PM.
This probably means something negative, but I am just happy to have some energy.
* Overhire: Doing on-call production work for a theatre, as opposed to having a staff position there.
Now, through no concious choice, I spent Monday and Tuesday without consuming any caffeine. I guess I was too tired to remember to drink a glass of tea. This, on top of trying to readjust a body clock used to working until 2:00 AM, has had me dragging ass in the shop.
Today. one of my co-workers bought me a giant cup of iced tea. I have actually come home, taken a shower, walked to the Kennedy Center and back, and am currently in my office, aka Starbucks, and it's almost 7:00 PM.
This probably means something negative, but I am just happy to have some energy.
* Overhire: Doing on-call production work for a theatre, as opposed to having a staff position there.
Monday, June 13, 2005
MMM.... Heat
So yes, it's Africa hot out, and everyone is miserable, and bitching about the heat. Even the little old lady in my building who had not left the AC all day. I know this because, as I was coming home from my day gig for the summer where I had been welding all day in a shop without AC, and was on may way up to my apartment where the AC doesn't work, she felt the need to harp on the heat all the way through the lobby and continued in the ride on the elevator.
I have not been that close to homicide in a long time.
Posting may be a bit light this week. I am trying to adjust my body clock to getting up at 4:00 AM, so I am a wee bit tired. And the welding in a shop without AC doesn't help.
I have not been that close to homicide in a long time.
Posting may be a bit light this week. I am trying to adjust my body clock to getting up at 4:00 AM, so I am a wee bit tired. And the welding in a shop without AC doesn't help.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Being Shy
I had lunch today with one of my few male friends. I had not seen him in a couple of months, so we spent some time catching up. As we were comparing dating notes, I made mention of my shyness. His response sort of took me off gaurd.
"I've never seen you as shy. I think it's what you have convinced yourself, and have made it a self fulfilling prophecy."
I am left wondering about that. Am I as shy as I think I am? A number of people I have talked to about it have been somewhat surprised I consider myself so. Am I just using it as a front so I don't have to face up to what an arrogant prick I really am?
But if I'm not shy, why do I have such trouble dealing with the opposite sex?
"I've never seen you as shy. I think it's what you have convinced yourself, and have made it a self fulfilling prophecy."
I am left wondering about that. Am I as shy as I think I am? A number of people I have talked to about it have been somewhat surprised I consider myself so. Am I just using it as a front so I don't have to face up to what an arrogant prick I really am?
But if I'm not shy, why do I have such trouble dealing with the opposite sex?
Friday, June 10, 2005
Dashing Off
To spend the weekend with the family, so I probably won't be posting this weekend, despite desperately needing to. Stay tuned for my thoughts on Big Death & Little Death, Woolly's new space, the Lautrec exhibit at the National Gallery of Art, and proper museum etiquette.
Have a great weekend, all.
Have a great weekend, all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)